Reserves Qualify Despite Defeat

Pools Reserves suffered their heaviest defeat of the season at Sheffield Wednesday but still made it through to the semi-finals of the Final Third Development League Cup.

The Owls were out of the traps quickly and scored inside the first minute when young front man Mani Dieseruvwe combined with Gary Madine to slot past Andy Rafferty for 1-0.

There were only seven minutes on the clock when Madine and Dieseruvwe again linked-up well to set-up Rhys McCabe, whose long-range shot found the net.

It was 3-0 on twenty minutes when Dieseruvwe smashed home his second of the game on the volley after good work by Jack Stobbs down the right-hand side.

Andy Rafferty was being worked hard by a Wednesday side who needed to win by six clear goals to book their passage in to the competition’s last four as best runners-up.

And that looked on when The Owls finally found another route past the Pools keeper when Madine managed to force the ball over the line for a scruffy fourth goal.

Home defender Martin Taylor’s challenge was deemed worthy of a penalty which gave Nialle Rodney the chance to reduce the arrears but the front man saw his spot-kick saved by young keeper Joe Wildsmith.

Rafferty made another instinctive save to deny Madine just before half time but The Owls did extend their lead to 5-0 minutes later when Stobbs again created, this time for Rafa Floro to finish.

And Wednesday got the sixth goal which would see them through to the semi-finals when the excellent Stobbs produced a wonderful solo goal for 6-0.

However, there was a final twist when James Poole drove the ball across goal and in to the far corner of the net to make it 6-1 – but crucially, pushed Pools back ahead of The Owls in the table by virtue of goals scored.

That means that Pools will take their place in the last four alongside Leicester City, Mansfield Town and Wigan Athletic with the semi-final draw set to be made on Thursday.